ETA Tablet 2017 01

2017 JANUARY

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Legend Of Yue Brought To Live PROJECT: Renkus-Heinz At Dulwich College EXHIBITION REVIEW: Prolight+Sound Guangzhou 2017 Preview USER PERSPECTIVE: Yamaha Rivage PM10 Put To The Task By Ctrl Fre@k

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06 NEWS

LIVE 45 CHINA: Outline At South China’s Top EDM Festival Jungle Boogie

29 VIDEO FILES

46 CHINA: Legend Of Yue Brought To Live

30 ENNOVATIONS

48 DUBAI: Venice Of UAE Opening Ceremony

04 FIRST WORDS

EXHIBITION PREVIEW 36 PL+S Guangzhou USER PERSPECTIVE 38 Ctrl Fre@k Puts Yamaha Rivage PM10 Thru Its Pace PROJECTS 40 CHINA: Powersoft At The Jinguan Theatre 42 AUSTRALIA: The P.A. People Deliver BSC Brewhouse 44 SINGAPORE: Renkus-Heinz At Dulwich College

50 MALAYSIA: Rock Bands Rockaway In The Rain 52 SINGAPORE: Robe Makes A Racket At WTA Finals 54 EVENTS LISTING

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ETA January 2017

The team at Spinworkz wishes all our readers a Happy 2017. This will be a year of reckoning in terms of Economic play. With Mr Trump taking up office on 20th January, the following months will give an indication as to his trade policies.

A number of European countries will be going through elections where surprises might be thrown up and of course there is the formal application by Britain to exit EU. These are uncertain times. Well the Chinese horoscope will change to that of the Rooster in 2017 from the Monkey which is considered mischievous – so hopefully better times?

Will countries become more inward looking? How will China’s policies affect the world? What impact will the rising US Dollars and impending interest hikes have on the world?

Seems like a heavy burden for one to carry. Unfortunately the reality is that we are just pawns in the bigger picture.

I am sure all of us will continue to work hard. We will need to innovate and upgrade our knowledge to continue to be relevant to the industry we are serving.

Is there a silver lining? Generally as the saying goes, one man’s meat is another man’s poison. Some effects will be beneficial to some and not so for others. We need to know when to seize the opportunity.

My personal wish is to see more companies collaborating rather than competing with each other when an opportunity presents itself. Some times it does help to take a step back and see the bigger picture.

We wish all of you success in 2017. Success as you know can be measured in many different forms and we hope you achieve what you set out to do.

Thomas Richard Prakasam Publisher/Editorial Director thomas@spinworkz.com

Ram Bhavanashi Editor, India And Middle East ram@spinworkz.com

Julie Tan Admin & Circulation admin@spinworkz.com

Jimmy Chin Design And Production jimmy@spinworkz.com

Michael Mitchell MEDIA REP IN NORTH AMERICA Broadcast Media International Tel: +1 631 673 0072 mjmitchell@broadcast-media.tv

To subscribe to Entertainment Technology Asia click here: http://www.e-techasia.com/subscribe/ PUBLISHED BY Spinworkz Pte Ltd, 51 Bukit Batok Crescent, #06-10 Unity Centre, Singapore 658077 Tel: (65) 6316 2716 Fax: (65) 63162715 www.spinworkz.com

Disclaimer Entertainment Technology Asia is published 12 times a year. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine is to be reproduced, whether mechanical or electronic without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the publisher. Unsolicited contributions are welcome but the editor reserves the discretion to use them. Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy and honesty in both editorial and advertising content at press time, the publisher will not be liable for any inaccuracies.

Please be informed that products and company names mentioned in this publication may be protected with tradenames, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Our non inclusion of such symbols is not an indication of us not recognising the copyright but rather to have a common look across our articles. Misuse of tradenames, trademarks or registered trademarks is strictly prohibited. It is the obligation of our readers to check if company names and products are protected with tradenames, trademarks or registered trademarks.

NEWS

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ETA January 2017

Auckland Live Boosts Robe Stock

L-R it is ULA’s Blair Terrace, with Auckland Live’s Malcolm Ibel in the centre, and ULA’s Cuono Biviano on the right

NEW ZEALAND: Auckland Live is a busy umbrella organisation running all the live performance venues in New Zealand’s largest performing arts and convention centre complex … right in the heart of the city.

Their existing stock of Robe moving lights is now boosted with the addition of 44 new LED moving lights - 12 x DL4S Profiles and 32 x LEDWash 800s.

Head of lighting Malcolm Ibel has been using Robe moving lights increasingly in his work in recent years, and Auckland Live initially invested in the MMX Series with the purchase of 12 x MMX Spots and 12 x MMX WashBeams.

Having been extremely happy with the performance of these and what they brought to lighting the various venues and shows, they had a solid basis for the decision to go with the latest purchase.

The DL4S Profile was selected for its finesse and elegance as a theatrical luminaire – compact size, light weight, good

zoom, superior colour mixing including great whites and high CRI for good flesh tones, plus super-smooth dimming and shutter blades.

The LEDWash 800s were also chosen for their excellent colours and ability to reproduce the intricate pastel ranges as well as all the bold primaries and secondaries, and as a general solid and dependable all-purpose fixture.

Being LED also means less maintenance ... and more power saving!

Like the MMXs, the new fixtures will be deployed across the various Auckland Live venues, and were also delivered

by Robe’s Australian and New Zealand distributor the ULA Group and their local representative, Lighting Supply Company, with whom Malcolm enjoys an excellent relationship.

The Auckland Live venues includes the historic Auckland Town Hall, a well-known 1600 capacity concert hall; the Aotea Centre with 12 different spaces and home to the

UGLY IS THE NEW BLACK The UGLYBOX MK2 is hailed as the ‘riggers best friend’, an indispensable tool in the lighting riggers and technician’s arsenal.

With the capability to send and receive W-DMX™ signals and to check their signal strength,. The W-DMX™ UGLYBOX MK2 is great for testing the limits of the W-DMX™ radio system and/or checking DMX data, in a portable, pocket sized format.

The W-DMX™ UGLYBOX MK2 can also be used to check W-DMX™ signal history that can also be saved to SD Card, allowing the user quickly to see any transient problems in the system. The Uglybox runs on batteries that lasts over 8 hours.

wirelessdmx.com - It is about trendsetters, not followers

NEWS

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ETA January 2017

Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra; The Civic Theatre, a highly atmospheric 3000 seater Art Deco architectural masterpiece; and Aotea Square, a public space nestling between all these venues … as well as the Viaduct Event Centre and the Bruce Mason Centre on Auckland’s north shore.

Malcolm’s association with Auckland Live (previously known as The Edge) actually goes back to 1991 when the Aotea Centre opened in the city centre. He returned full time 11 years ago after freelancing and working internationally lighting many different shows and tours.

He started specifying Robe products a few years back for certain special events, for which they were hired in, which led to him recommending that Auckland Live start investing in their own set of moving lights. The move was approached with trepidation, as up until that point they had traditionally lit most of their own productions with conventionals.

“I started asking people - incoming LDs and programmers together with the regular freelancers working here - what they would ideally like in a moving light and compiled a wish-list” explained Malcolm, “and we also needed something affordable”.

Robe was mentioned frequently, and he also had the chance to meet Robe’s CEO Josef Valchar on a visit and discuss the organisation’s moving light requirements first hand in the context of Robe’s current ranges.

“The Robe kit is properly innovative – it’s not just a reinvention of something that has gone before … with every generation of product development new technology is used and optimised,” says Malcolm.

Being run by Auckland City Council, a commitment to having the right ‘green’ credentials is also important,

and “Robe are bang-on” in this context he says. Getting units that were properly ‘multi-functional’ was another consideration. He needed fixtures that could be used to light a drama or a dance performance and also do some raucous rock ‘n’ roll shows!

He specified the MMX Spots first, closely followed by the MMX WashBeams … and is now delighted to be able to expand the Robe count with the DL4S Profiles and LEDWash 800s, which will be used daily somewhere across the Auckland Live complex.

The brightness, light weight – a convenient one-person lift – and the power efficiency of all these products are welcomed at Auckland Live.

Malcolm manages a Lighting department of five full time staff who work with around 20 regular freelancers across all the venues. They both produce and receive a huge diversity of shows all year round, and the place is a constant hive of activity and creativity, also staging their own community events.

Corporate and commercial meetings and conferences are co-ordinated by another division of the organisation, Viaduct Events, and for many of these, Auckland Live will be the technical co-ordinators, proposing and delivering a complete design and all the requisite technical elements.

While they don’t need a lot of ‘support’ as such, as the Robe products are extremely reliable, ULA Group has arranged product training sessions to assist Auckland Live staff to get the most out of their kit, and Robe’s international training and product support manager Steve Eastham has also engaged in a roadshow and on-site training to ensure everyone is fully aware of the power and potential of their moving lights. www.robe.cz

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NEWS

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ETA January 2017

G20 Concert “Enduring Memories of Hangzhou” Makes Public Debut With Community

CHINA: A spectacular concert, directed by famed Chinese director Zhang Yimou, was performed for world leaders on September 4th in China for the G20 Summit. “Enduring Memories of Hangzhou” later made its public debut in October, attracting huge audiences to the West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The upgraded show maintains 80% of the original program content and benefits from a new audio system which has been installed to delight audiences from all over the world.

This cultural fusion performance of East and West, featuring a symphony orchestra and gala on water, is a unique outdoor concert in a natural setting. Through a significant feat of engineering, the stage platform lies centimeters below the West Lake’s surface. To the audience, the actors appear to be performing on the surface of the water, which also creates a stunning reflection of the performance and lighting. The entire stage, covering an area of 8,000 square meters divided into three main performance zones spaced significantly apart, posed a great challenge for the monitor system setup.

Various Community R SERIES loudspeakers were selected for stage monitoring: Six R.5 loudspeakers are located on the glass walkway along the lakeside to cover the main

stage for the symphony orchestra and the choir; four R.25 loudspeakers are installed on the Jiuqu Zigzag Bridge to provide monitoring for the children's chorus; and R.5, R.25 and R.15 loudspeakers are distributed along the boardwalks surrounding the whole performance area to provide monitoring for the dancers.

“The biggest advantage of R SERIES is that they are horn loaded and weather-resistant,” commented Tao Zhang, audio system designer of the show. “This means that they provide the SPL required and give us confidence of reliability, even when it rains. Community R SERIES is the ideal choice for such an application.” www.communitypro.com

NEWS

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ETA January 2017

Sennheiser Ensures Les Misérables at Dubai Opera Is A Grand Success Performers were equipped with compact SK 5212-II bodypack transmitters designed to be comfortable to wear and inconspicuous, so as not to undermine the meticulous detail paid to costume design. These were linked to 20 Sennheiser EM 3732-II series receivers characterized by high transmission reliability, exceptional audio quality and simple operation. Further, a wide range of Sennheiser transmitters, receivers, antenna distribution systems and headsets were used for percussion, communications and other background operations vital to the show.

DUBAI: One of the most anticipated shows to grace the Middle East this year, Les Misérables lived up to the hype and enthralled audiences through its three week-long run at the equally impressive Dubai Opera. While no detail was spared by the costume, lighting and effects departments, as a musical extravaganza, it was the audio that held the spotlight with a host of Sennheiser systems ensuring the success of the show.

Commenting on the production’s decision to tour with an extensive kit of Sennheiser microphones, headsets, transmitters, and antennas instead of using the incumbent audio solution at Dubai Opera, Shelly Lee, Associate Sound Designer for Les Miserables said, “Musicals of this calibre would tour with the majority of the equipment required for the show. This includes the Sennheiser radio mics which have for many years been an industry standard in Musical Theatre across the world. They are chosen by Sound Designers internationally due to their high quality, consistency and reliability both sonically and technically.

We travel with our own Sound System including a large quantity of Sennheiser radio mics as our set up time is very tight and we need to be able to plug-in and go.”

In addition to exceptional audio quality, ease of installation was a key criterion for System Sound. As a long standing Sennheiser customer, the company has utilized the systems in performances across the globe.

“Our Les Mis sound team, which includes a Production Engineer, Head Operator and Radio Mic Technicians, is very experienced and has used Sennheiser equipment for many years. Back at System Sound in Australia, which supplied all the sound equipment for Les Misérables, we have an RF service technician who services and maintains all our RF equipment so it is always in good working order,” said Lee. One of the key concerns for any production involving such extensive use of wireless microphones is RF interference and intermodulation. To overcome this, System Sound used Sennheiser’s Wireless Systems Manager (WSM) software to remotely monitor the radio microphones, update labelling, and reprogram the receivers as needed. During each performance, the team had a dedicated radio microphone technician monitoring the RF and audio quality of each microphone.

The show in Dubai concludes a successful tour for the production, of which Sennheiser’s equipment was a fundamental part. www.sennheiser.com

35 Years xy

d&b is 35. Mike is d&b.

Mike Case is Territory Manager for APAC at d&b. He’s been on board since 2011. “35 years just goes to show we have a history and we have a future. The potential for the years to come for d&b and our partners is the most exciting it’s ever been. That’s a pretty awesome place to be right now.” In 35 years d&b has evolved from a small garage venture to a worldwide standard in professional sound systems. It’s people like Mike who make this story possible, and just that bit different from the rest.

Welcome to System reality.

NEWS

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ETA January 2017

D.T.S. Closes PAR Production

dLive Manages 10-Day Jazz Festival In Taiwan

ITALY: PAR CANs, the most widespread projectors in the world, were the evolution core of live show, theatre and TV performances in the last decades, in spite of their simplicity.

TAIWAN: Taiwan’s popular Taichung Jazz Festival, recently took place with Allen & Heath’s dLive digital mixing system managing FOH on the main stage. Supplied by PA company, Just Music, the dLive system comprised a S5000 Surface with DM64 MixRack, requested by renowned sound engineer, Kao Min-Fu.

D.T.S. owes to these projectors a lot of its success: in 30 years of activity - the first PAR was made in 1982 - in its own plants. Over the years over 8 million PARS were produced. D.T.S.’s PARs became a market standard for their resilience and quality as well as for their price, outcome of high production automation level and fully robotized workstations.

In December 2016, D.T.S. finished the shipment of the last PAR pieces and will proudly greet the forefather of a long list of projectors that have grown and improved an Italian company that, still today, designs and manufactures all its products in Misano Adriatico - Italy.

Now that the PAR production line is closed, it leaves room for new cutting edge technologies and D.T.S. promises to continue with the same passion to create an extraordinary evolution. dts-lighting.it

Taking place over ten consecutive days, the festival featured performances from a wealth of national and international jazz artists and bands, including Taipei Jazz orchestra, the James Carter Organ Trio, Jane Monheit, and Lullaby for Youth with legendary drummer, Billy Drummond.

“I requested dLive because I am very impressed with its simple and intuitive interface, which meant all the different sound engineers over the 10-day event could easily navigate the controls,” explains Kao Min-Fu. “dLive also has extremely advanced processing power, and the dynamics and FX package are excellent quality.” www.allen-heath.com www.taichungjazzfestival.com.tw/2016/

NEWS

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ETA January 2017

KLANG:technologies Partners With Huahui For Distribution In China sound that brings new levels of accuracy and transparency.

CHINA: KLANG:technologies is pleased to announce the appointment of Beijing Huahui Audio Technology Co., Ltd. (Huahui) as its distributor in China.

Established in 2003, Beijing-based Huahui is a professional audio company that provides a comprehensive range of services, including consultation, design, installation, technical support, training and sales. The company has an impressive portfolio of high-end brands, including L-Acoustics, Midas, Milab, Klark Teknik, t.c.electronic, Point Source, Focal, Adam, Canare and Sennheiser. Operating across the broadcast, studio, fixed installation and live markets, Huahui is focused on its technical ability and customer support and is ISO9001 certified.

KLANG:technologies aim is to create the perfect in-ear monitor sound for musicians, enabling them to work with greater ease and focus on their performance. Its KLANG:fabrik and KLANG:vier 3D personal monitor mixing systems have made real-time binaural and immersive spatial headphone mixes a reality, delivering a natural and controllable image around the performer with a quality of

“KLANG:technologies is breaking new ground in performance technology and China is a substantial market, so finding the right partner was really important for us,” said KLANG:technologies' founder and marketing director, Dr. Pascal Dietrich. “A genuine enthusiasm for music and the arts, combined with providing the highest level of technical support, makes Huahui the ideal distributor for our innovative product range. We’re pleased to welcome them as our partner for this key market.”

Allen Xu, Huahui’s Senior Solution Advisor, commented, “KLANG:technologies products really opened my ears when I first heard the sound they produce. This will start a new era for IEM monitoring, both on stage and in the studio. As a professional audio product distributor we have good relationships with major rental companies and sound engineers throughout China. By working with KLANG we can provide them with the tools to help artists give better performances on stage, and provide an opportunity to expand their business.”

KLANG:technologies’ products will be on show with Huahui at GETShow (Guangzhou Entertainment Technology Show) from February 27th to March 2nd 2017 at the Poly World Trade Center Expo in Guangzhou. www.klang.com www.hh-audio.com

NEWS

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ETA January 2017

Barco Laser Stars In Yeosu’s ‘All-laser Multiplex’, A First In Korea KOREA: Barco’s laser projector technology takes the spotlight in the brand-new CGV Kwangyang cinema, in South Korea. Operated by YEOSU MBC, one of the nation’s top 3 television stations and a branch of Mumhwa Broadcasting Corporation, CGV Kwangyang will feature one Barco flagship laser and six laser phosphor projectors.

Barco laser technology was the clear choice for the new cinema, because it offers significant cost savings, extremely high efficiency and the ultimate visual experience. CGV Kwangyang is Korea’s first all-laser multiplex.

Already a leader in television broadcasting, YEOSU MBC chose to expand its business activities in 2016 to include the seven-screen CGV Kwangyang multiplex. “We poured a whole lot of time and effort into finding the best solution in the projection industry, and the choice was clear,” explains Jinho Lee, Business Operation Senior Manager at Yeosu MBC. “Barco technology really stands out from its competitors in all areas – ease-of-use, reliability and superior quality. There’s no cinema experience quite like a Barco cinema experience.”

To secure CGV Kwangyang’s position as Korea’s most advanced theater, Yeosu MBC had already identified laser technology as the wave of the future. Company representatives pulled out all the stops during their evaluation of laser projection technology, visiting almost every laser projection site in Korea to verify on-screen picture quality, 2D, brightness and ease of installation and use. They found Barco laser projectors to have the ideal combination of innovation, simple and lamp-free operation, reliability and centralized network control – not to mention Barco’s excellent sales and service support, courtesy of Barco Korea and its partners. “But above all – it’s about the viewing experience. Barco is just better,” says Lee. The largest theater in the CGV Kwangyang multiplex will be home to a Barco flagship laser DP4K-30L projector, while the other six smaller theaters will be equipped with 20,000 lumen Barco DP2K-20CLP laser phosphor projectors.

“We’ll be able to offer Kwangyang moviegoers a cinema experience featuring the best possible imaging technology.

Even better, our choice of Barco’s flagship laser and laser

phosphor projectors simplifies operations and cuts costs, thanks to the absence of lamps,” Lee continues.

Youngwook Yoon, CEO of Yeosu MBC: “We believe that this ‘all-laser theater’ will be a new evolution in Korean cinema that will go down in history. We’re glad to write this history together with Barco.”

The new multiplex opened to the public at the end of December 2016. www.barco.com

NEWS

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ETA January 2017

Digi-Wave fulfils Simtran’s Need For Portability MIDDLE EAST: Nicolas M Kyvernitis Enterprises (NMK), the distributor of Williams Sound in the Middle East, has supplied Digi-Wave Wireless Intercom System to Simtran Technology Systems.

Simtran, a specialist supplier of simultaneous interpretation and conference management systems, was looking for a system that would allow for the provision of interpretation of presentations being made in different areas during events, without having to temporarily install booths, transmitters and radiators in each area. For certain applications, a simpler, more portable solution was needed in order to provide the same high level of service but with that extra flexibility.

NMK introduced Williams Sound to Simtran and provided them with a DigiWave demo kit to test.

“On using the kit we were impressed with the quality of the actual product as well as the general ‘look and feel’ of the manufacturer as a whole and their commitment to providing a wide range of high end products in various market segments. We compared the Digi-Wave system with a couple of other brands in the market and thought it would give us the most flexibility moving forward in terms of applications it could cover. Despite its slightly higher cost in comparison with the other options the system still seemed to provide the best ROI, something we have to bear in mind in a very competitive market,” commented Antony Lovell, General Manager at Simtran.

Based on the demo session and positive feedback from its team Dubai based Simtran purchased the Digi-Wave 300 series consisting of DLT 300 Digital Transceivers and DLR 360 Digital Receivers to fulfill the requirement.

“To date we have successfully used the system on a handful of occasions with three different clients. Both end users as well as the interpreters employed on the jobs were able to use the system with very simple introduction and no issues.

This ease of use factor is very important as there is no point in providing a system that isn’t intuitive and user friendly to clients who may only use it once a year. From a traditional conference setup in a five star hotel to an event that took place over various outdoor venues at a race track, the system has proven itself up to the job. It is certainly not intended to replace our existing stock, but provide a different solution for certain applications,” Mr. Lovell added.

Simtran Technology Systems answers a growing requirement for professional conference management and simultaneous interpretation services within both the United Arab Emirates and the region as a whole. The company stocks a wide array of market leading products including DIS and Shure equipment as the mainstay of their rental offering. www.nmkelectronics.com

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ETA January 2017

Adam Hall Group Signs Great Wall As Exclusive Distribution Partner In China Having both their warehouses strategically located, one in Guangzhou and the other in Tianjin, helps smoothen and shorten delivery times to dealers.

CHINA: Great Wall Audio’s Musical Instrument Managing Director, Kwong Wai Tong, welcomes Adam Hall Group’s COO, Markus Jahnel, at its stand (Hall W5) at this year’s Music China Show. Great Wall Audio has proudly featured new product innovations from Adam Hall Group’s pro audio brand LD Systems®, including the new MAUI® Series and CURV 500® Series. It is exciting times for Great Wall and the Adam Hall Group in China The Adam Hall Group, via its subsidiary Adam Hall Asia Pte Ltd, accelerates its two-year streak in building up a powerful network of well-connected distributors in APAC. The Singapore arm of the German Adam Hall Group has appointed Great Wall as its exclusive distribution partner for all brands except Adam Hall Hardware throughout China.

Established in 1997 by founders Kwong Wai Tong and Ye Jin Bin, Great Wall is headquartered in Guangzhou and currently the leading musical instrument distribution company in China. Having branch offices in Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai, four showrooms, one music school with 50 teachers and 300 students, Great Wall is still striving for more – it currently has a 900-member dealer network throughout China.

“It has been an honour having both Mr. Tong and Mr. Bin at our showroom in Singapore for extensive discussions surrounding future visions and plans for our companies,” said Chandan Mahtani, Managing Director of Adam Hall Asia Pte Ltd. “Not only do they share similar beliefs in highly valuing relationships with customers and industry professionals, but I have come to appreciate their continued involvement in fostering the musical instruments communities.”

Being the gateway into Asia, the Adam Hall Group has invested in its Asian showroom in Singapore. This showroom is not only used for demonstrations, but also open for trainings and special events. Adam Hall Asia Pte Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of Adam Hall GmbH, has plans for more such activities engaging partners together.

“It’s always nice to see all our distributors come together in one sitting and exchange ideas” added Chandan Mahtani.

“We are truly looking forward to distributing the Adam Hall Group brands in China. With our wide network of dealers, we are confident that they will appreciate the variety, not to mention the design, of the products. It’s reassuring to know that the Adam Hall Group has its own R&D, Design and Marketing teams at its headquarters in Neu Anspach, Germany” said Mr. Tong. www.adamhall.com www.musicgw.com

NEWS

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ETA January 2017

Dadi Digital Cinema In Huaibei To Deploy Christie 6P Laser Projection System

CHINA: Christie has announced that Dadi Digital Cinema Corporation, the second-largest theater chain in China, will deploy the award-winning Christie 6P laser projection system at its newest cineplex in Huaibei, a prefecture-level city in northern Anhui Province.

Located on the fifth floor of the new Huaibei GooCoo Plaza shopping mall in the bustling city center, the multiplex consists of 11 screens, including the premium Hall 8 auditorium in which the dual-head Christie CP42LH 3DLP 4K RGB laser projection system will be installed. Featuring a 16-meter wide screen and a seating capacity of 226, this is the first cinema in Anhui Province to be equipped with Christie’s pinnacle RGB laser technology, which provides an ultra-bright and colourful platform for huge screen theaters.

Developed primarily for 3D applications, Christie 6P laser systems employ two sets of RGB laser lights – one for the left eye, and one with slightly different wavelengths for the right eye. Reusable glasses then filter out the different wavelengths and direct the light to the eye it was intended for. In this way, 3D content feels more natural, is brighter and achieves DCI-compliancy for both eyes. Since the left- and right-eye images are presented simultaneously, audiences are not affected by what are sometimes issues when viewing traditional 3D content such as fatigue, headaches and nausea.

Jason Pei, Deputy General Manager, Christie China, said, “We’re very pleased that Dadi Digital Cinema has joined a number of leading exhibitors – in China and the region – in adopting our 6P laser projection system as its next-generation digital projection technology. Christie RGB laser has been proven as the perfect choice for premium large format theaters looking to set themselves apart from the competition, and to offer their audiences a truly unforgettable cinema experience. With its unprecedented brightness, flexibility, stability and multiple redundancies, our 6P laser system provides confidence to cinema exhibitors.”

The 6P laser projection system fitted at this venue comprises a pair of Christie CP42LH projection heads, connected via fiber optic to a laser rack housing eight laser modules that generate white light with a brightness of 40,000 lumens, which offers a spectacular 2D and 3D movie-viewing experience. It produces a color gamut that exceeds the DCI P3 colour spec and replicates the Rec. 2020 space, making it the most advanced RGB laser cinema projection system available on the market.

Lin Yu, Vice President, Christie Asia Pacific, commented, “We’re heartened that our pinnacle 6P laser technology has been selected by Dadi Digital Cinema to power its newest cinema in Huaibei, Anhui Province. This marks the further expansion of Christie’s RGB laser projection footprint to prefecture-level cities after being widely adopted in a number of major cities in China since its rollout two years ago – a clear indication of our technology prowess and leadership. We look forward to seeing more exhibitors installing our most advanced laser projection system in their premium large format theaters in smaller cities.” www.christiedigital.com

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ETA January 2017

Real Music Expands Adamson Network In China

Real Music Team with David Dohrmann and Seminar attendees

CHINA: Since May 2016, Adamson’s Chinese distributor Real Music launched a national education and demonstration program to promote the new S-Series amongst the brightest up-and-coming show service providers in the nation. The results of this effort has now lead to the introduction of twelve new S-Series partners in the region.

David Dohrmann, Adamson’s technical director Asia Pacific, will head up in-depth training for these newest customers in Xi’an and Beijing, and he is excited for the next phase of the partnership with Real Music.

“The extensive after sales support and training facilities they offer to their client base is the natural progression of this campaign and will provide a solid foundation to further strengthen the Adamson brand in China,” he said. “It is a model we will continue to implement with our partners and their contacts across the globe.”

During product demonstrations in May in several Chinese cities, Dohrmann showcased Adamson’s S-Series S10 line arrays supported by the newly introduced S119 compact subwoofers. He also went through a live demo of the accompanying Blueprint AV™ simulation suite software and reviewed available E-Rack solutions.

He says it was the help of Adamson’s Chinese partner that made the demonstrations a success.

“I am highly impressed how Real Music’s S-Series campaign turned into substantial business,” Dohrmann said of the tremendously successful promotional tour through Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou in May. “The way it pairs technical education with hands-on product demo is a very effective way to promote our products.”

Richie Wang, owner of Real Music that also has subsidiaries in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, indicated that the buzz around Adamson products continues to grow in his country and said he has received rave reviews about the quality of the improved sound from venues where the S-Series recently was installed.

“The S10 is an extremely powerful and universal product,” Wang said. “The response we get from touring clients as well as club owners is very positive. Some of the leading EDM clubs in China are equipped with Adamson now and we get overwhelming feedback from prominent local producers and promoters.” www.adamsonsystems.com

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Interested in sourcing for the latest pro audio technologies? Want to look for innovative technologies that have more impact on your audiences / viewers?

Whether you are working in houses of worship, education, rental houses, broadcasting stations, production houses, venue operators or in the hospitality industry, BroadcastAsia2017 shares the industry’s relentless efforts to deliver the ultimate experience to your audience.

See how evolvement in technologies can trigger your imagination and let you stay ahead of competition.

Focused themes in 2017

IMAGINATION UNBOUND

UHD NEXTGEN DISPLAY

Complete your Infocomm Media experience by hopping onto the free shuttle service from BroadcastAsia to CommunicAsia held at Marina Bay Sands.

IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES WIRELESS PRODUCTION PROFESSIONAL AUDIO TECHNOLOGIES

#BroadcastAsia2017

ENTRY TO THE EXHIBITION IS FREE! Organised by:

Pre-Register your visit at www.Broadcast-Asia.com and gain access to the Online Business Matching programme.

Worldwide Associate:

Held concurrently with:

www.CommunicAsia.com @ Marina Bay Sands, Singapore A Part of:

Hosted by:

Endorsed:

CommunicAsia & EnterpriseIT incorporate: www.EnterpriseIT-Asia.com @ Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Supported by:

Held in:

www.Satcomm-Asia.com

THE DESTINATION FOR SOUND, LIGHT, VISUAL AND STAGING PROFESSIONALS FOR SOURCING HIGH-END PRO AV SOLUTIONS

PLAN YOUR PARTICIPATION to exhibit, contact: Ramesh Chetwani

+91 916 744 7440 | rchetwani@palmexpo.in

Online Visitor Registration is Free Visit www.palmexpo.in

VIDEO FILES

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EK Lights BRIX FC /BRIX AW

ISE In 60 Seconds

EK Lights BRIX FC and AW are outdoor-rated high-power RGBW & AW COB 4-cell LED blinders with modular design for deploying large arrays. State-of-the-art COB technology delivers massive saturated colour and/or variable white output. Rugged proprietary locking system for reliable assembly of large arrays and sophisticated software simulation of halogen dimming behaviour is available.

ISE is considered the largest Audio-Visual exhibition in the world. The exhibition is held in Amsterdam and this year it will be held from 7 to 10 February. The exhibitors, visitors and cutting edge innovations are what help to give ISE its very special atmosphere, in which lots of important business decisions are made. Here’s a peek at what you missed in the 2016 edition. Booked your flight yet for this year’s edition?

ENNOVATIONS

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Elation Offers Zoomable 6-Colour And White-Light Pars With IP Rating Elation Professional’s range of flexible LED Par lights is expanding with the launch of the 6-colour SixPar Z19 IP and the variable white DW Par Z19 IP, both IP-rated and with motorized zoom. Useful for production applications or installations as a wash light, uplight, wall wash, truss warmer and more, both Par luminaires are easy-to-use, top-quality solutions for adding high-impact colored or white light to shows indoors or out.

Harnessing the power from 19 individual 15W LEDs and the versatility of coverage that comes from a wide 5° to 45° zoom, the SixPar Z19 IP and DW Par Z19 IP are ideal solutions anywhere a wash of high-quality coloured or white light is required. Both Par lights are in stock and available now.

SixPar Z19 IP The SixPar Z19 IP is a bright and versatile full-colour Par luminaire with nineteen 15W 6-in-1 RGBAW+UV LEDs. The 6-colour LED multi-chip provides an expanded palette of colors, including stunning ambers, true whites and even ultraviolet (UV LED wavelength of 395nm). Electronic strobe and variable dimming curve effects are included and a variety of color and chase macros make for greater programming convenience. The SixPar Z19 IP is bright, projecting up to 13,240 LUX @ 9.8’ (3m) (5° full on). The fixture is controllable via 4 DMX channel modes (14 total channels) and is RDM protocol capable (Remote Device Management).

DW Par Z19 IP The DW Par Z19 IP is a bright and versatile white-light Par luminaire with nineteen 15W 2-in-1 cool white / warm white LEDs for variable shade projections of white light. It features dynamic white color temperature range control from 2,700K white tungsten to 6,000K cool white.

Electronic strobe and variable dimming curve effects are included. The DW Par Z19 IP is exceptionally bright, projecting up to 32,064 LUX @ 9.8’ (3m) (5° full on, 4,600K). The fixture is controllable via 6 DMX channel modes (7 total channels) and is RDM protocol capable (Remote Device Management).

Common features Built with rugged die-cast aluminum exteriors and fully IP65 protected, both the SixPar Z19 IP and DW Par Z19 IP include IP-rated 5pin DMX and powerCON TRUE1 in/out connections for use in all types of weather. They come with a 180° reversible LCD menu display and a 4-button touch control panel makes for simple navigation through DMX and manual settings. Multiple unit power linking means that customizable setups are quick and both fixtures come with an adjustable yoke / floor stand for flexible positioning.

Both luminaires operate flicker free for use in TV and other broadcast applications and an auto-sensing power supply covers worldwide voltages and frequencies. Both the SixPar Z19 IP and DW Par Z19 IP are energy efficient, consuming 282W and 240W of max power respectively, and offer other benefits of LED like greater reliability and less maintenance for a lower cost of ownership. www.elationlighting.com

ENNOVATIONS

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Fohhn Ships New High Performance PT-70 Concert Sound System The PT-70’s unique selling point is its Fohhn engineered Convertible Dispersion Technology (CDT). This technology - which is also registered as a utility model - enables the loudspeaker to be manually switched between vented and cardioid operational modes. In the latter case, this means significantly less sound being transmitted onto the stage area from the rear of the speaker, resulting in the best possible levels of sound quality and speech intelligibility.

The PT-70 has 2 x 12” chassis with compression chamber and horn, plus a 1.4” compression driver on CD horn. It also has a passive crossover including a voltage-controlled circuit that protects the high frequency driver against overload. An integrated mid-range waveform system suppresses unwanted side lobes in the vertical acoustic axis. The loudspeaker is available with two different beam dispersion angles (90° x 50° or 60° x 50°) and offers a maximum sound pressure level of 140 dB, a frequency range of 52 Hz – 20 kHz and a load capacity of 900 W

(nominal) / 3600 W (peak).

Weighing in at 39 kg, the PT-70’s compact dimensions (400 x 850 x 450 mm) and carefully designed mounting bracket system makes it highly suitable for both flown applications and secure stand-alone tripod use.

The speaker housing is built from steel brace reinforced multiplex birch plywood and coated with a scratchresistant, polyurethane black finish (with other RAL colours also available on request). www.fohhn.com

ENNOVATIONS

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64 Audio Incorporates Revolutionary Tia Technology in Three New In-ear Models

The tia Fourté, U18 Tzar, and A18 Tzar from 64 Audio all feature tia technology. This new technology features custom tia drivers, the tia single bore, and special acoustic chambers. The tia driver stands apart as an open balanced armature that produces sound with a direct-radiating, fully unobstructed diaphragm. Coupled with this new driver is a single large bore that provides an extremely short path between the driver and the ear. This bore acts as a natural sound-shaping chamber, tuning the tia driver without the sound tubes used in traditional in-ear monitors. As a result, the tia driver delivers an astonishingly clear, linear frequency response. These two features, paired with specialized acoustic chambers in the monitor’s internal design, eliminate many of the unwanted resonances and distortions that are found in conventional IEMs that use sound tubes and dampers. The tia system gives more of the clear highs without incidental resonance and interference.

The new tia Fourté is the only IEM on the market that utilizes every feature of the new tia system. This 4-driver universal model is the first of its kind. All three elements of the tia technology are incorporated into the Fourté, and in addition to that, 64 Audio has installed an internal passive radiator and their apex technology. All of this innovation comes in an elegant, durable exterior shell machined out of a solid piece of aluminum.

The U18 Tzar and A18 Tzar are tia hybrid models. These two new models feature custom tia drivers as well as the specially crafted sound-shaping single bore. But the kind of drivers isn’t the only thing that’s special – the U18 and A18 are the first in-ear monitors to house 18 drivers in a single earphone. This is the pinnacle of in-ear sound, designed for the most discerning listeners, audiophiles, and musicians who are searching for the ultimate reference sound.

Like all of 64 Audio’s in-ears, these two new models also come with apex module technology for fatigue-free listening. The U18, like the Fourté, holds all of its greatness in a machined aluminum shell that is both smaller and more ergonomic than the current U12 flagship. The A18, like all of their A-Series models, can be customized through their IEM Designer.

To understand more about tia technology visit: https:// www.64audio.com/technology/tia For customers that would like to upgrade to the new models, 64 Audio is offering a Flagship Upgrade program where they will upgrade a 64 Audio 12 or 10 driver IEM to the new flagship models. This program runs from November 25 - January 31, additional information can be found on their site. http://64Audio.com

ENNOVATIONS

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Columbus McKinnon Redefines Lever-Operated Hoists With New CM Tornado 360° The new CM Tornado 360°™ features the revolutionary Sidewinder™ lever handle. Ergonomically designed for increased safety, the patent-pending CM Tornado 360° allows the operator to be more productive with significantly less effort compared to conventional ratchet lever tools.

The CM Tornado’s Sidewinder lever handle features a 360-degree rotating lever and a fold-out revolving handle.

Working in unison, these integrated components allow the operator to realize the full potential of 360° rotation while working in a safe and ergonomic position. This unique design reduces repetitive wrist action experienced with traditional lever hoists, letting the operator utilize a full 360˚ range of motion to work up to 12 times faster. The Tornado’s double-reduction gearing and high-quality bearings decrease pull force by up to 30 percent, minimizing operator fatigue as compared to using conventional ratchet lever tools.

The Tornado is available in 3/4 and 1-1/2 ton capacities with standard lifts up to 20 feet. Additional lifts are also available. The hoist features an industryleading lifetime warranty and meets ASME B30.21 manually operated hoist standard. The CM Tornado 360° joins the CM family of hoist products, including the CM Hurricane 360° hand chain hoist, which harness the safety and versatility of 360-degree engineering.

Outside of the North American market, this hoist is available to customers under the Yale brand as the Yale Ergo 360°™ ratchet lever hoist. www.cmworks.com

ENNOVATIONS

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KLANG:fabrik 3D Personal Monitor Mixing System Introduces MADI Interface

Real-time binaural and immersive spatial headphone mixes became a reality with KLANG:fabrik and KLANG:vier, which combine the wish for transparent and natural monitoring sound with the advantages of in-ear monitoring.

Using advanced psychoacoustic research and innovative implementation, KLANG:technologies designed its in-ear and headphone mixing tools for studio, musical and live productions and was the proud winner of this year’s prestigious PLASA Gold Award for Innovation.

The recognized problem with stereo IEM is positioning all of the signals of a mix in the narrow space between the left and right ears. This is solved by placing the signals virtually around the entire head, including above and below. In addition to significantly improving natural sound and transparency, listening fatigue is dramatically reduced.

Now, to make this next generation in-ear mixing tool available to a wider range of users, a MADI BNC interface is available for KLANG:fabrik, next to Dante and ADAT. Its switchable second MADI BNC input/output port, together with KLANG:fabrik's flexible I/O routing matrix, offers

various format conversions between ADAT, Dante and MADI in addition to the in-ear mixing functionality.

Firmware KOS 2.2 and control application KLANG:app 2.2 are being released to fully support this expansion.

In addition to MADI support, the update brings a whole bunch of new features including extensive OSC integration and full 96kHz support. KOS 2.2 introduces innovative enhancements in usability and flexibility, not only for the application as a mixing tool for monitor engineers, but also and especially for the use as a personal monitoring system. KLANG:technologies operating concept addresses both experienced monitor engineers, with full control over all mixes, and also musicians and performers who can individually control their own 3D mixes.

KLANG:app for iOS, Android, Mac and Windows is available to download free at www.KLANG.com/video and it’s demo mode gives users the opportunity to hear and control 3D IEM mixes for themselves. www.klang.com

ENNOVATIONS

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CHAUVET Professional New COLORdash Par Q12 IP CHAUVET’s new RGBA LED wash delivers bright, colourful, flicker-free light indoors or out, regardless of weather conditions, thanks to its IP65, outdoor/wet rating (pressure equalizing M12 GORE® valve), Powerkon IP65 power cord and IP-rated DMX connections.

Powered by 12 8.4-watt RGBA LEDs, the latest addition to the COLORdash line has an output of 865 lux at 5 meters.

It also has a colour temperature range of 2800 to 10000 K, and its advanced optics result in effective colour mixing.

Adding to the versatility of the COLORdash Par Q12 IP are its selectable smooth dimming curves, which eliminate choppy fades, and its 20° beam angle, which provides broad wash coverage. The fixture’s adjustable PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) results in a flicker-free output, making it well suited for lighting events that are going to be videoed.

The fixture is compact in size and features a double bracket yoke to enable it to be flow on truss or positioned on

the floor. It also features an OLED full text display with password protection and a touchscreen interface. www.chauvetprofessional.com

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

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Prolight + Sound Guangzhou

International Key Brands Eager To Explore Market Potentials In China New “Theatre K Pub” addresses surging demands in karaoke and theatre sectors

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rolight + Sound Guangzhou 2017, the prominent trade fair for the pro audio and lighting industry in China, is almost fully booked three months prior to its opening from 22 – 25 February 2017 at Area A of the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou.

Kobble, Kvant, Laserworld, Martin Professional, MIPRO, Montarbo, Peavey, QSC, RCF, Redx, Runningman, Sabine, Samson, SE Audiotechnik, Seikaku, Sennheiser, Shure, Soundking, T.D Taichee, Taiden, Takstar, Tendzone, TJ Media, TW Audio, Verity Audio, VUE and Yamaha.

Approximately 1,250 local and international exhibitors, including some of the most notable names from the pro audio, lighting and entertainment technology sectors have confirmed their attendance and are set to unveil their latest innovations and technologies across 130,000 sqm of exhibition space in 13 halls. Participating companies and brands include Alcons, Allen & Heath, Audiocenter, Avid, Beta Three, Beyerdynamic, Bosch, Bose, Celestion, Clay Paky, Creator, d&b audiotechnik, dBTechnologies, EAW, Eighteen Sound, Electro-Voice, Fidek, Funktion One, Gonsin, Harman International, HiVi, IAG, Kling & Freitag,

Judy Cheung, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd, is delighted by the overwhelming response from the industry. “I am pleased to announce that as of now, almost all of the exhibition space has been taken. The KTV and lighting halls are reserved entirely so we extended the exhibitor area to the Y Channel to make way for the new Theatre K Pub and lighting zone. As we celebrate the fair’s 15th anniversary this edition, we are particularly grateful for the enthusiastic support from our new and returning exhibitors. This not only underscores the importance of Prolight + Sound Guangzhou as a

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

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premium business platform, but also reflects how the industry resonates with our mission to transform and evolve with market demands.

I am confident that the show will continue to serve as an international marketplace that pioneers the pro audio and lighting community in China.”

International key brands eager to explore market potentials in China The pro audio and lighting sectors in China continue to represent a very lucrative market for many leading international companies that will take centre stage at Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2017. Among these exhibitors, many regard the show as a gateway to increase their penetration and business leads.

First-time Chinese exhibitor Hangzhou Chuangda Stage Facilities Co Ltd is a local agency of the brand RCF and will launch its special fixed installation products at the fair.

Chao Jiang, General Manager of the company remarked, “In recent years, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou has begun to make steady improvement in quality and attendance and has become one of the leading fairs in the industry.

We believe this show will become an indispensable channel for us to increase brand exposure, promote our latest advancements and meet our clients directly in China.”

Laserworld, a Swiss exhibitor for high-end laser equipment that is also eyeing the burgeoning Chinese market has decided to return for the fifth time. Benedikt Orthen, Director of Events of the company acknowledged the show’s importance in stimulating its business in China.

“With an increasing demand for project businesses in China and Asia, the need for high-quality laser systems with better specifications and graphics is also growing. There is a huge flow of Chinese audience at the show and this is the main reason we are back every year.”

New “Theatre K Pub” addresses surging demands in karaoke and theatre markets in China The Chinese entertainment sector has entered a revolutionary era as more customers are increasingly

interested in mini home theatres, as well as karaoke and audiovisual integration systems. In response to the explosive market growth, the brand new “Theatre K Pub” will debut this year, featuring high-quality karaoke systems, mini home theatres, customised installations, smart digital AV and system integrations in unique showrooms located at Y Channel of Area A. Companies including AMOI, Beidousat, Gaoyuanshen, LeChi, Magimore, MUNIU Tengsheng, Vidon and Zetian have already confirmed their participation and are set to unlock the potentials offered by the entertainment market.

On behalf of the organiser, Ms Cheung expounded on the new possibilities offered by this zone. “This area will not only help exhibitors and visitors capitalise on the abundant opportunities available in the booming karaoke and theatre markets, but also expand the influence of Prolight + Sound Guangzhou in these new sectors of the industry.”

Apart from the aforementioned featured area, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou will continue to deliver an all-around platform with the Audio Brand Name Halls, Pro Audio Halls, Lighting Halls, KTV Hall, Enping Microphone Hall, as well as product zones for microphones, conference systems, PA systems, as well as parts and accessories. The expanded outdoor line array across three demonstration areas will feature the largest number of local and international audio brands in order to provide a wider range of sourcing options for attendees.

Prolight + Sound Guangzhou is organised by Messe Frankfurt and the Guangdong International Science and Technology Exhibition Company (STE). For more details and information about the show, email: plsgz@hongkong. messefrankfurt.com. www.prolightsound-guangzhou.com

USER PERSPECTIVE

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Ctrl Fre@k Puts Yamaha Rivage PM10 Thru Its Pace Rent the musical offers the perfect opportunity to take advantage of PM10’s features

Photo copyright Crispian Chan (Pandemonium)

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ent the well-loved musical that was born twenty years ago was brought to live in Singapore last October at the Drama Centre by theatre company Pangdemonium! Not surprisingly the performance saw a strong turnout of audience throughout the performance period. All sound aspect for the musical theatre production was undertaken by Ctrl Fre@k Pte Ltd. To ensure that this epic musical met the expected high standards set, Ctrl Fre@k re-looked at the space and audio elements and decided to supplement the sound system within the venue.

Rent is a musical with a rock and roll element to it and it was critical that that feel was transported to the audience.

Thus Ctrl Fre@k reinforced the front of house sound system with ten units of d&b T10 (serving as a vocal centre cluster) hung above the stage with four units of V12 and two units of V-Subs placed left and right of stage. In-house B2 subwoofers were placed along the V series stacks, together with Ci80 side fill and five units of E3 front fill system. Coverage for the Circle 2 seatings was handled by further in-house Q-Series loudspeakers and subs.

Ctrl Fre@k also replaced the in-house console with the Yamaha Rivage PM10 console. “We felt that the in-house console would not have helped us achieve our objectives with this particular musical and decided that the PM10 would meet our expectations,” said Jeffrey Yue, director of Ctrl Fre@k and the sound designer for the musical.

Ctrl Fre@k is no stranger in the theatre realm. The company had previously been involved in a number of theatre productions where they have provided the full gamut of sound, light and visual solutions. For Rent, the company also provided the lighting programming and sound mixing.

“In a musical, with a number of casts and a live band, it is important that each aspect of the audio does not over shadow the other and the audience feel that they are immersed in the musical. It is also important to ensure that from the other side, the cast and band are able to work seamlessly with each other and able to hear each other comfortably. Thus the mixing plays a critical role.”

USER PERSPECTIVE

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Yamaha Rivage PM10

L-R: Jeffrey Yue, Lawrence Tan of Yamaha and Lee Yew Jin of Ctrl Fre@k

“This was the first time we have used the Rivage PM10.

Our confidence that the system will deliver was simply borne out of the fact that this is a Yamaha product,” said Jeffrey. “We were able to quickly grasp the technical aspects of the system and that was important due to the very short production time that we had.”

to FOH is completely different to that sent to the guitarist's Aviom IEM.

What was critical to Ctrl Fre@k was the large amount of channels that the PM10 offered. On top of that the functions and functionality was important. “Our biggest concern was programmability as there was a huge number of scenes in the musical. The amount of processing that the PM10 can handle with the option of using plug-ins was simply amazing. All the onboard classic emulation plugins that comes with PM10D were extensively used throughout the whole mix.”

One key challenge in this particular instance was the very short period that Ctrl Fre@k had to work with in terms of setup, tuning and rehearsals within the Drama Centre. To mitigate this situation, Ctrl Fre@k used the Virtual Sound Check feature of the PM10. “The main benefit for Virtual Sound Check is when the musicians are not around during set up/rehearsal in Drama Centre, we are still able to work on the mixing. We had only 1 session of sitzprobe which was not even enough to run through the entire show.

All the musicians have tight schedules to adhere to and overrun costs money. So, with VSC, we basically recorded the musicians and then tweak the sound after they leave.

We were doing this even during full dress and previews. So, at the end of the evening performance, we will squeeze in another 30 minutes before being kicked out of the venue to do more tweaks and mixing.”

For Rent, Ctrl Fre@k had divided the one console to provide both FOH & Monitoring. “This show had a long run of 3 weeks and one of the reasons we split the console to provide both FOH and Monitoring was purely down to budget constrain. One more console would have also meant one more engineer. The FOH/Mon split deployed was also to mitigate the fact of a one day set up, show and then turnover,” highlighted Jeffrey.

One reason this was possible was due to the large number of channel counts available with the PM10. “Each microphone input was digitally split into 2 channels – one for FOH, one for Monitor / Aviom IEMs. By doing so, I can have separate processing on the same input sources to different destinations. So, it’s not just a mix difference, example, the compression on the main guitar being sent

The PM10 handled the vocals of the 20 cast plus 27 channels of the band that were duplicated for monitoring as well.

The PM10’s ability to separate the surface to different zones; blocks to accommodate multiple users on the console; large amount inputs/outputs and large amount of DSP processing meant that the console performed way above expectations, with all involved pleased with the outcome. www.ctrlfreak.sg www.yamahaproaudio.com

PROJECTS

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CHINA

Powersoft Helps EZpro Deliver Historical Chinese Play

Powersoft’s integrated DSP combined with Symetrix and EAW’s dedicated UX8800 system manager ensure the sound was fully optimized

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owersoft amplification has been used to drive the sound at a powerful stage play at the Jinguan Theatre in China’s Shaanxi Province.

The production ran for an entire season to sell-out houses at the 600-capacity theatre where a combination of X4, Duecanali and M-series amplifiers were specified by the Italian manufacturer’s Chinese distributors, Shenzhen EZpro Sound & Light Technology Co., Ltd to drive an EAW QX364/ SB1001 system.

The play, Chu Shi Biao is adapted from the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong during the Ming dynasty. It focuses on Zhuge Liang, a chancellor (or prime minister) of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, and describes historical events such as Meng Huo being captured and released seven times, as well as the Northern Expeditions and Empty Fort Strategy.

The sound reinforcement was supplied to Xi’an Genius Audio & Vision Technology Co. Limited, and system design was by Zhang Xianjun from EZPro’s Xi’an office. His task was to achieve even and intelligible coverage of all dialogue as well as the musical elements, which included play-ins from both Denon and Avid Pro Tools devices. Powersoft’s integrated DSP combined with Symetrix and EAW’s dedicated UX8800 system manager to ensure the sound was fully optimized.

PROJECTS

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The task proved challenging, since the theatre is raked and fanned in an arc shape, with the front row measuring 10 meters in width but the back row spanning a width of some 35m — making even coverage difficult to achieve.

EZPro’s solution was to deploy several Powersoft systems, assigning a pair of the new flagship X4s to drive the seven QX364 full range loudspeakers and pair of SB1001 subwoofers that formed the main L/C/R system. In addition, two Duecanali 3904 drove the four VFR159i ceiling loudspeakers, providing effects, while eight M-series M30D and M50QD amplifiers powered 12 EAW VFR129i (stereo effects), a pair of EAW VFR159i fixed monitors and four VFM129i mobile monitors.

EZPro’s Wanda Cao is in no doubt why the X4 was the perfect choice to handle the main system. “First of all they are suitable for Single-Phase, Bi-Phase or Three-Phase operation from 85V AC up to 460V AC; secondly, the Powersoft Green Audio Power technologies improves power conversion efficiency and minimizes the ‘carbon footprint’

— and therefore the operational costs; and finally, the integrated top-grade DSP allows recall of loudspeaker data files.”

On top of that, she says, Powersoft X series provides two Dante streams, allowing an elegant digital signal transportation path, eliminating the need for a large number of bulky analogue cables.

But overall, EZPro realized that the massive power output would be more than sufficient to drive EAW QX series, which is processed within the Powersoft Armonía DSP, while the compact form factor offers considerable space saving advantages.

In summary Ms Cao said a combination of flexibility and reliability, coupled with the excellent brand image of Powersoft, had contributed towards a first-class sound package, and left the show’s producers with a smile on their faces. www.powersoft-audio.com

PROJECTS

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AUSTRALIA

The P.A. People Deliver BSC Brewhouse Bankstown Sports Club serves up another attraction

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he Basement Brewhouse, inside Bankstown Sports Club is now open! Featuring its own microbrewery serving a pilsner, sparkling ale, pale ale and American-style pale ale, 30 taps with a variety of craft beer and cider, and a tap wine selection for those looking for something a little sweeter, as well as a delicious burger menu and a gourmet delicatessen.

“The brief given to The P.A. People in the lead-up to the Brewhouse project, was to provide us with high quality distributed sound system, high definition vision and a simple, yet intuitive control system. They have exceeded expectations in their delivery, with some very positive feedback from early on” said Jason Klippel, Audio Visual Team Leader.

The Brewhouse was an engaging challenge from the outset, working within the confines of a fully operational

club, ever conscious of noise and an existing structure. “We were in constant contact with the Club’s AV Team to give final approvals on all site locations as we would not get a second go at getting it right” observes Ross Ford, Project Manager for The P.A. People.

The TVs around the outer walls of the venue were an initial challenge. Curtains ran behind each one and the desired outcome was not to see fix-points etc. The P.A. People designed a single-point swivel bracket that the curtain could be fitted around - with the TV sitting just in front hiding all fixings and cables.

TV screens inside the barrels were an even bigger issue.

The original design required single-sided units, mounted to a round pole which the joiner was supplying. During the process, the club decided to enhance these specs, which required mounting them on both sides of a square pole

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“In the process of this install, we upgraded the entire site-wide MATV system from analogue to digital. The Brewhouse was running Digital for Melbourne Cup Day!” adds Brett Steele, Manager - Installed Systems.

A great result - complimenting a new high-quality venue at the club.

Equipment list:

fixture. Our team then came up with the mounting idea complete with tinted acrylic trim to hide all the cables and connections; a very neat result and presentation.

“We were on site most days to ensure that we were not ‘built-out’ of any areas; thankfully we were mostly in front of where we needed to be and completed the install task days before the official opening” said Ross Ford.

- 12 x 32" TV's Booths - 5 x 55" TV's - 1 x 98" TV - All controlled by AMX - 28 x Bose FS40 surface mount speakers and 3 x Freespace subs in the main areas - 2 x private Lounges with 4 x Bose FS40 Flush mount speakers and a - Freespace Sub in each - Univox hearing loops in the main bar areas - Shure ULXD radio mics - Surface Touch Panel Control www.papeople.com.au

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SINGAPORE

Renkus-Heinz At Dulwich College Electro-Acoustics Systems ensures even coverage of the 700 seat auditorium

desired results," explains EAS Senior Systems Engineer Chua Cong Wei.

E

ducation standards in Singapore rank among the highest in the world, and the facilities to be found in Singaporean schools are suitably impressive. The most recent example can be found within the state-of-theart senior school campus at Dulwich College (Singapore), where an impressive 700 seat auditorium is now available for students to use. Providing equally state-of-the-art sound reinforcement is an audio installation based on RenkusHeinz's VARIAi modular installation array.

Not to be confused with the London-based school of the same name, Dulwich College (Singapore) opened in 2014 in Bukit Batok, in the west side of Singapore. It is the seventh international school to bear the name, following other locations in Asia including Shanghai, Beijing, and Seoul.

The auditorium is located within the school's new performing arts center. Boasting a faรงade inspired by the Barry Building in London, the facility occupies some 301,390 square feet and incorporates two black box theaters, a library, a gymnasium, a dance studio and more.

At its heart is the auditorium, with an AV design courtesy of CCW Consultants, which was then made a reality by leading systems integrator Electro-Acoustics Systems Pte Ltd (EAS).

The theater's shape provided a particular challenge for the design of the sound reinforcement system.

"The auditorium is a dual-level theater consisting of a wide stage and a short front-to-rear audience area, so the flexibility of the VARIA system was the key to providing the

The full system is based on an L-C-R configuration of three line array hangs, each comprising five VARIAi VAX101 10-inch line array modules. "VARIAi gave us the modular options of three different cabinet angles, so we were able to create long, middle and short throw combinations all in a single configurable array," Chua continues. "This was accomplished by having three 7-degree boxes on the top, followed by a 15-degree and a 22.5-degree box below - a variation of waveguides for targeted horizontal coverage.

As a result, the VARIAi array switches from 90-degrees (top) to 120-degrees (bottom), so we can optimize sound coverage in every corner of the venue."

Low frequency support is delivered courtesy of two flown VAX115Si dual 15-inch subwoofers.

Moving deeper into the audience area, four wall-mounted TRX121 12-inch enclosures, located two perside, provide side fill coverage. Finally, performers are served by four Renkus Heinz CFX1121M monitors.

"Complete coverage from the stall to the upper balcony level is achieved with only five cabinets per array," adds Chua. "For this venue, the VARIAi triumphs over a traditional line array, both sonically and visually." www.easpl.com.sg www.renkus-heinz.com

LIVE

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CHINA

Outline At South China’s top EDM festival Jungle Boogie

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lectric Jungle Music Festival is the first and biggest EDM festival in South China and the 2016 edition was staged at the huge Shenzhen Universiade Center, inaugurated just five years ago and designed to host not only international sports, but also large-scale events and concerts, such as the Festival, committed to creating a rich, flexible and highly interactive world-class stage offering a wide variety of on-site activities as well as the music.

The festival, which featured sets by jungle artists such as R3HAB, Knife Party and Adventure Club, was presented by Jungle Events and organised by MNET Media.

For the second consecutive year, Guangzhou Haona Audio Equipment Co Ltd. was the Festival’s audio supplier.

As well as lasting longer than in the past (two days instead of one), the festival also added a new stage this year and Haona, Italian audio manufacturer Outline’s distributor for China, fitted it out with twelve of the company’s GTO loudspeakers and six GTO-Subs. The rig was powered by a pair of Outline X8 and twelve Outline T11 amplifiers.

Outline’s loudspeaker systems were also deployed for coverage for the event’s VIP area: six Outline GTO C-12 line source arrays.

Company president Kong Qinghua explained, “The event’s general lighting and sound contractor, Music Trick Lighting, asked us to take on the project for the whole sound system because our equipment was ideal for the show and we also provide strong technical support.”

Haona’s Managing Director Huang Zhenan added, “Outline is well recognised in the electronic music industry.”

Mr Kong continued, “They have an in-depth training program for dealers and distributors, which provides

consistent standardised technical support in each country, which is a great benefit in guaranteeing shows’ results.”

The large venue offered additional challenges for the Haona team, as Mr Kong explained, “There were small hills with trees and the fact that the organisers added a VIP zone meant we had to calculate coverage precisely before the show, taking all these factors into consideration. Some adjustments were made onsite and we had just two days for setup and alignment.”

Careful planning was required to ensure that the best possible solution was implemented and communication was key. “It’s very important to communicate with customers before shows and plan accordingly,” Mr Huang observed.

“Manpower can be arranged and equipment checked at the warehouse, but if last-minute changes have to be made, these can pose another big challenge.”

Mr Huang concluded, “Whereas concerts or touring shows last two to three hours and clubs operate four to five hours nightly, the Festival’s sound reinforcement needed to be able to run for eight consecutive hours, with full power energy and at a very high SPL, which was very demanding for the products. We ensured plenty of headroom when we designed the system and were confident that we didn’t need back-up.” www.outline.it

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CHINA

Legend of Yue Brought To Live At Guangzhou International Light Festival 30 metre dome features immersive projection and Holographic screen

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he Guangzhou International Light Festival is considered the third largest lighting festival in the world. This annual event was held from 18th November to 4th December 2016, at the Huacheng Square in Guangzhou with 30 light works being showcased from 7pm to 10pm daily.

One prominent feature was a 30 metre dome that was strategically placed within the square with the backdrop being the iconic Guangzhou Tower. The Guangzhou Tower which is lighted up every night provided a seamless experience when the dome was lighted up, making it seem like it was part of the Light festival.

The project was designed by Joytower Technology Co. Ltd, China, together with Real-World Connection Pte Ltd.

The dome was used to project contents and images in relation to “The Legend of Yue” who is considered as the first influential stateswoman in the history of China, who lived over 2,000 years ago. Mi Yue played a significant role in the ascendance of clan that went on to become the biggest power during the Warring States period (476–221 BC), which eventually united China under the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Altogether 24 Vivitek D8900 projectors were installed, 2 metres from ground level, within the dome. What stood out in this installation is the use of the VIOSO Anystation 4.3 software that used just one computer to handle the calibration, alignment and blending of the 24 projectors.

According to C.E. Tan of Real-World Connection Pte Ltd, who was involved in the project installation as the regional representative of VIOSO, this is the only software as of now

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Another interesting aspect within the dome is the installation of a 5m x 3m Holographic Screen that was used as a backdrop for a stage. The stage was used for performances that were interspersed with the content projection on the dome. Two Barco projectors were used to project images on the Holographic Screen.

that is able to handle 24 projectors with just one computer.

The Anystation 4.3 has actually not been officially released and will be shown at ISE 2017 but it has already showcased its pedigree at the Guangzhou International Light Festival.

What is even more impressive, is according to Tan, it took only 2 hours for the 24 projectors to be calibrated and aligned, using just one Ethernet IP camera with 360 x 180 fisheye lens. VIOSO’s China partner, Shine-A-Lumos, had two engineers on site and with the remote access capability feature, collaborated with the VIOSO team from Germany who were able to remotely help with the calibration and any other issues that cropped up. Considering that the software was new the team in Germany wanted to ensure that if there were any bugs, it would be fixed on the spot.

The challenge was to ensure a seamless look. With the stage being placed in front of the dome projection, the VIOSO software had to calibrate the projectors to mask the images around the stage. The Holographic screen projections were used to support the performers on stage who had to co-ordinate their movements precisely to create an impression of being one with the images projected onto the screen. The projections on the dome that were behind the Holographic screen were also used effectively so that the performance, the images on the Holographic screen and the images projected onto the dome created a complete and seamless look.

The Holographic Screen and content related to the screen was provided by Korean company Holotive.

The Guangzhou International Festival attracts millions and in 2016, visitors got to enjoy an immersive show that was unlike any other, at the Dome. www.realworld-plc.com

With the VIOSO Anystation 4.3 it took only 2 hours for the 24 projectors to be calibrated and aligned, using just one Ethernet IP camera with 360 x 180 fisheye lens.

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The Venice of the UAE DUBAI

Prodea Group engages Protec for the ultimate ceremony

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oint a reasonably powered telescope at the planet Mars and you will see the so called canals beloved of science fiction writers. Turn that scope around to view Earth from Mars and a new canal is clearly visible at the heart of Dubai; this one is no fiction (Click here to see the canal). Cutting an elegant swathe through the city, the new Dubai Canal opened with a spectacular ceremony hosted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. When it came to providing the ultimate in fanfare, drama, and excitement, creative agency and show producers Prodea Group, engaged the services of Protec, the Middle East’s largest and best known specialist event technology provider.

“With such a prestigious opening spectacular nothing can be left to chance,” said Paul Flint, Head of Production

International Team for Prodea. “The delivery of this event

by Protec did exactly that; their attention to detail was superb.”

With over three kilometres of canal side to cover, the provision of equipment was huge, as Protec’s project manager for this event Simon Travis explains. “Prodea is an Italian company, they brought a clear creative vision for the event. The brief they gave us was to support their vision; to create something spectacular with lighting, audio and video, with an element of automation for the aerial artists on the main stage. As such, the project engaged almost all the skillsets within Protec. With such a large waterfront to cover we broke the job down into manageable chunks for all departments: Pre-function VIP arrival area; inside of the VIP tent; Main Stage presentation; the Canal itself and the Legacy Zone.’

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elements, a dozen Barco HDF 30Ks were deployed for the main stage, plus another eight mounted to four towers for the water screens along the canal. The water screens proved problematic in that coastal winds made them unstable, backward spray rendering the projected images indistinct. Chris Wimbush, our head of video, had his team resolve the problem by installing gauze grids to stabilise the water-screens. But this introduces another problem; water screens are a back-projection surface, but gauze based water screens perform best with front projection, so the four sets of towers and their respective projectors, had to be re-positioned to the opposite side.’

‘Fit up commenced on 18th October and had to be rehearsal ready by 6th November for the show on the 9th. As you can imagine, there was a big commitment of equipment from all departments; audio was led by Dan Dignan who ran the Digico SD10 for the opening ceremony where a stage presentation played to a temporary grandstand seating many hundreds of dignitaries and guests. It was here we provided a Kinesys automation system for the three aerialists that performed upon the main stage. The audio system was L’Acoustics K2. For all the other areas we called upon L’Acoustics xt range (virtually all models) and Kara. The Legacy zone show ran off Qlab; time code here and elsewhere providing cues for lasers, pyro and some lighting. That gives just some indication of the complexity involved.’

‘Lighting was arguably the most stretched department, over three kilometres of canal bank each side takes a huge commitment of resources. An MA dot2 and two full-size MA2s were used at main locations, controlling an armada of lighting largely, but not exclusively, drawn from the Clay Paky range. Over 700 Alpha Spots alone were complimented by large numbers of Sharpy, Super Sharpy, K10 and K20 B-Eyes, Scenius, Mythos as well as VL3000 Spots. Ambient and architectural accents were provided by hundreds of Schnick Schnack strips, Pixel Smart and Pixel Batons. Arguably the most artful lighting was at the waterfall across the full 120 metre width of the canal, cascading from the Sheikh Zayed bridge. Here we used the Clay Paky Scenius, taking full advantage of the shutter function to minimise spill off the water to spectacular effect.’

‘Video experienced the most taxing times, this was a big projection show running content provided by Prodea who also brought their own media servers. There were two main

‘Overall the wind proved the most challenging aspect to the whole production; as is so often the case with these big construction projects, they run right up to the last minute, which meant much mechanical activity along the site stirring up considerable amounts of dust. Fortunately, we anticipated the environment and acted accordingly, not one strategic piece of technology failed throughout the spectacular evening’s entertainment. We are extremely proud of that.”

Flint was equally delighted, “Our client, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, wanted an event that reflected the importance of this massive engineering project and Protec helped us achieve that with style and taste, and with minimum of fuss. Linking as it does, Deira and Bur Dubai through the extended waterway of Dubai Creek, Business Bay and Dubai Water Canal, we are sure the new canal will benefit the Dubai community for many years to come.”

All photo credits: Protec www.productiontec.com

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MALAYSIA

by Ivan Dang

Rock Bands Rockaway In The Rain

EHQ brings out the musical instruments and vocal prowess through Sennheiser microphones

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ith heavy rain forecast throughout the week, dark grey clouds filled the skies as what was a hot weather turned damp and moist. Nonetheless the weather did not dampen the hearts of die hard rock fans as they marched towards Bukit Jalil Extreme Park, Kuala Lumpur. As a continuation from their previous concert “Rockaway Malaysia MotoGP Weekend” held in Sepang International Circuit on 29th October 2016, Rockaway: The Saga Continues kicked off on 19th November 2016 with acts from legendary rock bands such as Butterfingers who made a comeback after more than 10 years. Bands such as Third Eye Blind, Alleycats, Deja Voodoo Spells, One Buck Short, Zainal Abidin, Get Up Kids, Pop Shuvit, The Changcuters, Hujan and many more took the stage pouring their energy towards the fans who did not mind the rain pouring on their heads.

Known as one of Malaysia’s event powerhouses, Livescape has yet again managed to pull a successful eventful rock festival. “We took at least a week in setting up the venue,” commented Darren Waide, Livescape Event Production Managing Director. “We started on Saturday that would be the 12th of November. A whole week setup process

involving heavy duty work around the clock. Our crew worked in shifts throughout the process. Since it gets really hot in the day, we tend to do our work during the nights as well. You would be able to see people up and about at the site 24 hours a day,” continued Darren. “The roof and our truss system were the first to be installed at the venue which took us two days. The stages and scaffolding were next to be installed. The third day was the time when most of our equipment was mounted and installed throughout the venue. Our audio and visual equipment were installed periodically. When all equipment were installed, that’s when

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our Front of House came in. By Thursday, we were ready for our first sound check,” commented Darren on their venue set up process.

“One of the main challenges we faced was definitely the mud in this area. As the ground was recently cleared, the ground was loose and soft. Unfortunately for us, the weather was not on our side as the rain kept pouring down. At first we decided to cover the ground with 8 tons of gravel, however in the end we used a total of 42 tons of gravel,” commented Darren. “It was definitely a huge challenge for us, however, we were able to work around with it. Snakes were another issue as the place was just recently cleared. We had to use Sulphur around the premises,” continued Darren. Darren further added that the venue was also prone to lightning strikes as it is a levitated wide open space compared to the surrounding and thus extra lightning rods were installed for the safety of all.

An event as big as this, it was mandatory to be equipped with some of the best equipment, among them were Sennheiser microphones which were able to capture the frequencies produced by the musical equipment and vocals from the singers. We spoke to one of the main sound engineer for the event, Andrew from EHQ Projects Sdn Bhd on the venue setup and their usage of Sennheiser microphones. “We have been handling a total of 4 rockaway festival over the years and with every festival, there is always something exciting in store for us. With a total of 3 stages, we used a 2 front of house and 2 monitor sound console to operate and configure the 2 main stages.

As it was a back to back event, we needed to coordinate the consoles to act precisely so that when one stage goes live, the other prepares for the next act. There were a total of 96 channels connected and divided into 48 channels per monitor,” mentioned Andrew with enthusiasm.

“They were amazing and we love them,” commented Andrew on the Sennheiser microphone that were used for the event. “Our drums sets are all hooked up with Sennheiser instrumental microphone such as the E906, E904 and E902. During the sound check they were capable of bringing out the frequency of the instruments just as we wanted them to be,” commented Andrew. Andrew also mentioned that the Sennheiser worked along well with the guitars on set and how the reproduction of sound harmonized with the speakers that they used. “Throughout the sound check, the microphones perform as expected and there was no fault or issue,” claimed Andrew. Aside from Sennheiser G3 IEMs, the Sennheiser E945, E935 and E845s were some of the vocal microphones used in the event.

Additionally, musical equipment microphones such as E606, E914, E905, E901 and E604 were also used.

Throughout the event, it was clear that Rockaway Festival 2016 was a huge success as the audio visual equipment were able to punch through and perform well under the rain. “Definitely would like to give my thanks to Sennheiser Asia and Acoustic & Lighting System for the wonderful support they provided for the event. It is great to have them to support our local events and our company is always open to these support,” mentioned Andrew as we ended our interview with him.

Photos courtesy of Acousting and Lighting Sdn Bhd www.livescapegroup.com ehqprojects.com.my www.acousticlighting.com

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SINGAPORE

Robe Makes a Racket at WTA Finals

Over 100 Robe moving lights illuminated the court as part of a lighting scheme designed by Michael Chan and Tom Langridge

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he 2016 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore tennis tournament was presented by SC Global and staged at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang over a seven day period at the end of October.

Over 100 Robe moving lights illuminated the court as part of a lighting scheme designed by Michael Chan and Tom Langridge. While Tom ensured that the court was lit specifically for the TV cameras and special requirements like slomo, Michael looked after lighting for the Opening Ceremony and then for general ambience and effects lighting throughout the schedule of matches, including creating WOW-moments for the player entrances.

To assist with this he used 40 x BMFL Spots, 40 x Pointes and 21 Robe Squares, all supplied to the event by The Show Company, together with other moving lights and LED PARs mostly rigged on trusses in the roof.

Eight of the Squares – a 5 x 5 LED matrix of 25 individually mappable pixels with five independent zooming layers and continuous pan-and-tilt rotation – were rigged on four

trussing towers both sides of the main player’s entrance … and used to ramp up the excitement as the players entered the court, looking great on camera and live.

The other 19 Squares were on a circular truss in the roof, trimmed at about 15 metres above the tennis court and utilized for the opening ceremony together with the BMFLs and Pointes.

The Opening Ceremony was a 15 minute entertainment show starting with a lighthearted house-keeping segment by ActiveSG kids, followed by a 4 minute dance presentation by the Jeffrey Dance Academy, choreography

by Jeffrey and Ryan Tan for which a 4 sided 10 metre tall by 5 metre wide projection screen was dropped into the middle of the court via double Kabuki.

The Kabuki cloth dropped to the floor for a dramatic reveal of singer Sophie Beem and her two dancers inside. Beyoncé prodigy Beem performed her song "Girls will be Girls" which also featured 80 dancers from the Jeffrey Dance Academy.

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This event was the first time that Michael had used the Squares on a show, although he had been wanting to try them for some time. They brought “a completely new and different element to the lighting” he declared, particularly with the 360 degree rotation which was extremely dynamic and helped create looks and effects that “simply would not have been possible using more traditional fixtures”.

On this occasion, he found pixel effects the most useful Square feature together with the fact that the fixture can ‘double’ as a powerful LED wash source as well as impressive eye-candy”.

The biggest challenge for him in lighting the WTA event was in the re-planning and production and working around all the players’ practice sessions with only a week on site and only a few hours per night for programming - a task he completed with colleague Darran Kwok from Show Company - and rehearsals.

Others involved in the Opening Ceremony included creative director Beatrice Chia-Richmond and Technical Director Kenny Wong.

He thinks Robe has progressed in “leaps and bounds from the early days to become a market leader”, with the BMFL series being one real “game-changer” along with the Pointe, launched in 2013, which effectively offered four fixtures “a very good spot, beam and wash light - plus effects - in one small housing”.

He also likes the DL series, Robe’s elegant theatre grade LED luminaires designed for performance applications and sums up “I’d have absolutely no problem using an all Robe rig with all these great choices available”.

The 2016 WTA Finals tournament was contested by eight singles players and eight doubles teams with Slovakian Dominika Cibulková beating top seed Angelique Kerber in a nail-biting finish to be crowned the 2016 singles champion. www.robe.cz

Michael has used Robe products for some time over his 15 year career as a lighting professional he explains, recalling the early years of Robe’s first flagship product, the ColorSpot 1200E AT which was followed by the 700 series, another favourite during its era.

Photo Credit: Lagardère Sports

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EVENTS LISTING 2017

Apr 04 – 07

NAMM Show 2017 Venue: Anaheim Convention Centre, Anaheim, USA Site: www.namm.org/exhibit/WN17

Prolight + Sound Frankfurt 2017 Venue: Frankfurt am Main Site: pls.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/aussteller/ willkommen.html?nc

Feb 07 – 10

Apr 12 – 14

Integrated Systems Europe 2017 Venue: Amsterdam Rai, Amsterdam, Netherlands Site: www.iseurope.org

InfoComm China (IFC) 2017 Venue: China National Convention Center (CNCC) Site: www.infocomm-china.com/en/

Feb 22 – 25

Apr 22 – 27

Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2017 Venue: Area A, China Import & Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China Site: prolight-sound-guangzhou.hk.messefrankfurt.com/ guangzhou/en/visitors/welcome.html

NAB Show 2017 Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center, NV, USA Site: www.nabshow.com

Jan 19 - 22

Feb 27 – Mar 02 Guangzhou Entertainment Technology (GET) Show 2017 Venue: Poly World Trade Centre Expo, Guangzhou, China Site: www.getshow.com.cn

Mar 21 – 23 CABSAT 2017 Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Site: www.cabsat.com

Mar 23 – 25 China Content Broadcasting Network (CCBN) Exhibition 2017 Venue: China International Exhibition Center, Beijing, China Site: www.ccbn.tv/EN/

Mar 29 – 30 ioT Asia Venue: Singapore Expo, Singapore Site: www.internetofthingsasia.com

May 11 – 13 LED Expo Thailand Venue: Hall 5-8, IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand Site: www.ledexpothailand.com

May 23 – 25 BroadcastAsia 2017 Venue: Suntec, Singapore Site: www.broadcast-asia.com

May 23 – 25 CommunicAsia 2017 Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Site: www.communicasia.com

Jun 01 – 03 PALM Expo India 2017 Venue: Bombay Exhibition Center, Goregaon East, Mumbai, India Site: www.palmexpo.in

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June 9 – 12 June

September 26 – 28

Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition 2017 Venue: China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China Site: guangzhou-international-lighting-exhibition. hk.messefrankfurt.com/guangzhou/en/for-visitors/welcome. html

InfoComm India 2017 Venue: Bombay Exhibition Centre, India Site: www.infocomm-india.com

Jun 14 – 16

Site: www.prolight-sound-shanghai.hk.messefrankfurt.com

11 - 14 October Prolight + Sound Shanghai 2017 Venue: SNIEC, Shanghai

Conference Programme starts on Jun 10 InfoComm International 2017 Venue: Orlando, Florida, USA Site: www.infocommshow.org

Jul 13 – 15 Summer NAMM 2017 Venue: Nashville, TN Site: www.namm.org/summer

July 26 – 28 ProAVL Asia 2017 / Toursim Technology Asia 2017 Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Site: www.proavlasia.com

August 29 – 31 Integrate Venue: Melbourne Convention Centre, Australia Site: integrate-expo.com

September 5 – 7 2017 Shanghai Smart Home Technology (SSHT) Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai, China Site: www.building.messefrankfurt.com.cn

17 - 19 October Prolight + Sound Middle East Venue: DWTC, Dubai Site: www.prolightsoundme.com

October 12 – 14 Broadcast India Show Venue: Bombay Exhibition Centre Site: www.broadcastindiashow.com

October 25 - 27 Broadcast Indonesia Venue: Jakarta International Expo, Indonesia Site: www.broadcast-indonesia.com

November 17 – 19 Conference programme starts on November 13 LDI Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center, USA Site: www.ldishow.com